Drinking rim for beer cans



Oct. 21, 1952 w CARPENTER- 2,614,406

DRINKING RIM FOR BEER CANS I Filed April 24, 1950 I ,5] mi I1 jg? I I INVEIIQTOR.

OLIVER 14 CARPENTER.

ATTORN Y6 Patented Oct. 21, 1952 UNITED STAT Es PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to detachable rims for beer cans and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a detachable rim for a conventional beer can which facilitates drinking of the contents directly from the can.

Another object is to provide a rim which may be disposed on the can and isolate the drinkers lips from any contamination such as germs, or the like, which may be present on the can.

A further object is to provide a rim which is inexpensive in construction, and hence may be discarded after use.

Another object is to provide a rim which will withstand a sterilizing temperature in event the rim is to be reused.

Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become more apparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a conventional beer can with the subject of the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan in the direction of arrow 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through a conventional beer can before an end has been removed therefrom;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the can after an end has been removed and with the rim applied thereto; and a Figure 5 is a section taken through line 5-5, Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, aconventional beer can It] is illustrated, such as the well-known type adapted to contain twelve fluid ounces and being of a diameter of approximately two and one-half inches. The can comprises a cylindrical wall I I which is closed at its ends by identical end walls, such as wall [2, securement being effected by a conventional interlocking beaded connection I3, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4.

While an end wall of the cam may be cut out in any manner desired, it is preferred to remove it with any well-known type of can opener which will cut it around a line at I4 in Figure 3, and smoothly roll the reentrant portion l5 of the end wall into abutting relation with the inside surface of wall I0, as best shown in Figure 4. I

The rim is is preferably constructed of a molded plastic material such as polyethylene, which is somewhat resilient, but unlike rubber, is considerably harder. The rim is U- or channel-shaped in cross section, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, and is proportioned to the can so that the inner surface I] will snugly engage the reentrant portion [5 of the end wall and form a liquid seal thereat so that no liquid will leak around the bead on the can. Suitable tabs l1, Ila with advertising matter I8, [8a thereon may be integrally molded with the rim at desired points at its periphery, the two shown being exemplary, and of course, only one tab may be employed if desired.

If the rim is to be given to a customer with the purchase of beer for advertising purposes, it may touching the surface thereof which contact the lips, which ensures the customer of a sterile edge from which he may drink the contents without contacting the beaded edge of the can. The rim, being non-metallic, is somewhat more comfortable to touch with the lips than the bare metallic edge of the can, which is preferably icecold.

While the device has been illustrated for use with a beer can, it will of course be apparent that its size may be varied to fit any other type of beaded beverage can, such for example, as those employed for packaging fruit juices, etc.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. For use in combination with a beverage can that when opened has a vertical rim of cylindrical shape, an aid to drinking the beverage as one would normally drink from a glass, said aid comprising: an annular smooth ring of plastic and somewhat elastic material, said ring being substantially U-shaped incross section so that it can be fitted snugly to the open rim of the can and readily removed therefrom for subsequent sterlization and reuse, the outer periphery of said ring having at its lower edge a tab joined integrally thereto and extending approximately radially, said tab being of such size and shape that it can'readily be grasped between the thumb and a finger of the hand for facile manipulation.

2. In the device set forth in claim 1, said tab being duplicated in a zone approximately diametrically opposite from itself, to facilitate application of the ring to the top of an open can.

OLIVER W. CARPENTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 184,317 Avey Nov. 14, 1876 324,906 Wickersham Aug. 25, 1885 369,085 Tyler"; Aug. 30, 1887 1,256,933, Schriner Feb. 19, 1918 1,444,529 Schroeder Feb. 6, 1923 1,515,480 Hernandez Nov. 11, 1924 1,564,880 Mauser Dec. 8, 1925 2,052,496 Stassi Aug. 25, 1936 2,075,721 Hommel Mar. 30, 1937 2,094,869 Ballard Oct. 5, 1937 2,116,418 Smithson May 3, 1938 2,226,146 Smith Dec. 24, 1940 2,299,730 Bomstein Oct. 27, 1942 2,523,639 Tucker Sept. 26, 1950 ,3 0 Stuart et a1. June 5, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country v Date 5,515 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1887 13,565 Great Britain July 15, 1895 123,940 Germany Oct. 1, 1901 394,733 France Dec. 5, 1908 475,631 Germany Apr. 29, 1929 

